Peterson said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that his individual goal is to shatter — not just break — the NFL’s all-time single-season rushing record. And his team goal is to win the Super Bowl.

“I’ve got my bar set for 2,500. If I could go up to that the record is shattered,” Peterson said.

And as for what he wants the Vikings to do?

“I want a couple rings,” Peterson said. “We’ve got to start at one and we need to get that one this year. We have the potential to get to the Super Bowl and win. It’s just all about coming together.”

Realistically, Peterson isn’t going to rush for 2,500 yards, even though he’s been saying that’s his goal for months. A player would have to average 156.25 yards a game for 16 games to reach 2,500. Even in Peterson’s phenomenal 2012 season, he averaged “only” 131 yards a game and he “only” topped 156 yards five times. It’s just not reasonable to think he’s going to improve on last year’s total by more than 400 yards.

As for the Super Bowl ring, well, that’s a long shot too. But Peterson has his sights set on the right spot.

If they gave him the ball more I actually think he could average 25 more yards a game and do it

But if you want to win a Super Bowl you want to have a balanced offense – and as impressive as one guy running for 2500 yards is, that’s not a balanced offense.

If he wants to accomplish both goals he should try to win a Championship with the Vikings – then go to a perennial loser like the Jets who have no QB and no chance of winning the Super Bowl who will let him run nearly every play.

barroomhero80 says:May 2, 2013 6:05 PM

Just play the packers every time and he’ll run 300 yards every game. Chumps

prmpft says:May 2, 2013 6:05 PM

Ok – I want to win a little less thank he makes & a nice house in the country – not gonna happen – but neither will his I think…

With the balanced fire power on offense: MVP Adrian Peterson, Veteran Greg Jennings, Pro-Bowl MVP Kyle Rudolph, and future Pro-Bowler Cordarelle Patterson the Vikings offense is looking to tear up defenses this year, ultimately leading the Vikings to a Super Bowl #SkolVikings

It’s sad knowing that a player like A.P will never get a superbowl ring. Let’s b honest the vikings are not going to contend for a superbowl any time soon. if when they do A.P is going to be retired or considered too old to be in the league.

axltcu says:May 2, 2013 6:09 PM

You can tell he believes he can accomplish these goals and he is going to work as hard as it takes to do so no matter how difficult it will be. It’s not just arrogance.

He could get 2500 yards, but I doubt it if Jennings stays healthy this year. I see them as third place at best in the NFC North this year without much of a chance to make the playoffs. But then I thought that last year too…

If he had to choose one or the other, I wonder which he’d rather take.
—————-
He made it very clear when asked about it late last season that team wins always take priority over the rushing record. So it’s pretty safe to say he’d take the latter.

And that is why he is second tier to Brady and manning and players like them. You won’t hear them talk about their individual goals or stats only about the rings. AP there is nothing wrong with wanting to break individual records but stay quiet about it. The only goal you should discuss in interviews is the ring.

Our QB sucks?? How can you make that assumption on a guy who has only played one full season in the league. Us he didn’t have the best stats but drastically improved from the previous half year he played, and did so with little to no receiver help. He won’t be the best to ever play but with continued growth he will be solid.

vikesindividual says:
May 2, 2013 6:18 PM
Oh, and about the “QB sucking”, bordner….
True/False: Christian Ponder led the team to a 10-6 record in 2012-13. He doesn’t have to be Peyton Manning, wins are all that matters.
—————————————————–
Uh… did you watch the games? AD led the team to a 10-6 record despite Ponder’s attempts to screw it up. The only game he really contributed to the win was the last game he played in, and his body rejected success and put him in the hospital.

Look at the weapons on offense now compared to the end of last year when Ponder led them to wins in their last four games. They still have Peterson in his prime, who will be healthy all season rather than coming back from an ACL. Ponder has another year of seasoning and showed a lot of improvement while leading the team to four straight wins at the end of the season. Kyle Rudolph is a Pro Bowl tight end. Jarius Wright played well at the end of the year, and now he’s a veteran instead of a rookie. Jerome Simpson is healthy. Michael Jenkins and Devin Aromoshadu have been replaced with Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson. Who cares how many yards Adrian gets? This is going to be a fun offense to watch and they should win a lot of games.

AP, your team has been wanting to get ONE Super Bowl ring since more than a decade before you were even born and it hasn’t happened. But I do believe you’ll own the rushing record soon.

mooseknuckle says:May 2, 2013 6:51 PM

If only the packer fans on this thread had goals…..
For instance, they could hope to get their teeth fixed, or they could hope to be off welfare, or maybe even hope to lose 300 pounds and stop having sex with animals.

That is probably as unlikely as AP getting 2500 yards but we must continue to pursue goals that are not easily attained.

Did anyone see how many games Ponder threw for under 100 yards and how many under 200 yards last season? With the best RB in the game in the backfield. How is a Super Bowl going to be won with that kind of QB play?

EJ says:May 2, 2013 6:55 PM

I hope Ponder gets himself in check and surprises everybody. Peterson getting to 2500 would mean that the Vikings wouldn’t be passing much throughout the season, and in a passing league that would spell disaster for Ponder and his Receivers.

I love the naysayers!! they said the same thing last year. Ponder had a lot of dropped passes last year, including TD’s. From 2011 to 2012 pretty good improvement, in my opinion. If Ponder takes one more step forward, we’ll be pretty good! If Ponder played in the playoff game, it would’ve been different. Did you see GB trying to do everything they could to beat us in the dome? Yea, they don’t want to see #28 running. They’ll see it this year. We are a team that nobody wants to play, cause we are a downhill, smack you in the face team. All the other teams are built to stop the pass!! Bring it on in 2013!!!

ninerfan11 says:May 2, 2013 7:03 PM

In other words, “I want to play for San Francisco.”

clayswife says:May 2, 2013 7:04 PM

mooseknuckle says:
May 2, 2013 6:51 PM
If only the packer fans on this thread had goals…..
For instance, they could hope to get their teeth fixed, or they could hope to be off welfare, or maybe even hope to lose 300 pounds and stop having sex with animals.

That is probably as unlikely as AP getting 2500 yards but we must continue to pursue goals that are not easily attained.
___________________________________

filthymcnasty1 says:
May 2, 2013 7:01 PM
Adrian needs to a reality check on stat padding. What good is all that yardage if he keeps losing to the Packers twice per season the way they have for the last 3 years.

AP = Loser

Nice stats though.

_______________________-

Livin in the past, living. in. the. past.

put down the beer and cheese, find a job, find a girl, then maybe you’ll find a life.

WE COMINNNN

808raiderinparadise says:May 2, 2013 7:14 PM

An orange peanut? for me? …. really?

urcrap says:May 2, 2013 7:15 PM

To

To all Viking haters. Hate you back. A-holes!

bcgreg says:May 2, 2013 7:15 PM

Super Bowl? Possible.
2500 yards? No effing way even if you spot him 400 yards.

Wasn’t Chris Johnson supposed to get 2500 yards the year after he got 2000? C’mon, people. It will NEVER be done. EVER!

Doesn’t EVERY NFL player want a Super Bowl Ring? What a stupid headline. As far as 2500 yds, good luck. He can’t use the crown of his helmet anymore so he will be lucky to get 1000.

vikingfan1971 says:May 2, 2013 7:28 PM

hey all you vikings haters stop saying if he wants to win a superbowl he needs to go to a different team.
and filthy your beloved packers did not beat the vikings 2 times in regular season and you barely beat the vikings at home. The vikings beat the pack at home I watched the game and dont get me started on the playoff games against the pack. That game was not fair and if they had Ponder would have been a different story.
and I think filthy and tokyo are the same person.

In fact, the Packers have beaten the Vikings twice per season for 3 years in a row. And that is incredibly painful and difficult for Viking fans to admit, as many still refuse to acknowledge the truth.

greyhawk9 says:May 2, 2013 7:52 PM

the vikings fans that honestly think they are a qb away from a Superbowl are absolutely hilarious … and 2500 yards is possible if they bench ponder and just direct snap it to ap

Filthy Says:
The Packers have beaten the Vikings twice per season for the past 3 years.

I know you hate it, but too bad. It’s a FACT.”

This happened in the past: FACT

2013 season is in the future: FACT

Wisconsin is inbreed capital of the world: FACT

i know you hate it, but too bad. They’re FACTS.

thejuddstir says:May 2, 2013 8:05 PM

Gotta love the idiots who post according to their favorite team and not about a player’s abilities. Peterson’s goal is very lofty but if you had to pick one RB that you think would have the best chance of breaking the rushing record don’t show your stupidity by saying you wouldn’t pick Peterson. I have my favorite team but I am also a huge fan of the NFL and it’s best players. A. Rodgers is the best QB, Megatron is the best WR and Peterson is the best RB…..see rubes, it’s not so hard.

vikingfan1971 says:May 2, 2013 8:07 PM

jan 5th was a playoff game not a season game filthy

paul82461 says:May 2, 2013 8:07 PM

If you really think A.P. can run for 2500 yards your a damn idiot. Vote thumbs down all you want your just fooling yourself.

In fact, the Packers have beaten the Vikings twice per season for 3 years in a row. And that is incredibly painful and difficult for Viking fans to admit, as many still refuse to acknowledge the truth.

————————————————–

According to your flawed logic. The 2 regular season games were split 1-1 and the playoffs were a different phase of such a season.

Another flaw in your logic is going back 3 years. Of course you want to forget about the Favre led Vikings that swept the Packers the 4th year back.

It is not painful or difficult to acknowledge the truth even if it is retardedly swerved to suit a Packer fans point of view……

theytukrjobs says:May 2, 2013 8:16 PM

Last season, Adrian Peterson averaged 159 yards per game over the final 9 contests of the regular season. That is over a half of a season that he averaged enough yards per game to hit 2500. He easily surpassed the best 9 game stretch of any back in NFL history. And he did half of that damage with a sports hernia! “All” he has to do is maintain that pace over a full season.

This thing is not impossible. Improbable, yes. But not impossible. I give him about 15% odds.

Say what you want about the Vikings, but nothing relating to their running game has been altered this offseason. In fact, given the ages of the players on their line, tight ends included, their blocking should be improved if anything.

I’m not saying he’s going to do it. It is a long shot. But it is not impossible. Not after how he played the last 9 games of last season. If he stays healthy, and the line blocks as well as last season, he is going to come reasonably close to this thing. Get your popcorn ready, folks.

okay filthy this is my last post to you how can a playoff game be a season game? not all teams play in the playoffs, and if ponder was playing he would have done better, you seem to mention your away game at the vikings which is in between the reg. season game and playoff game so how is that 2 games. in season
I dont think its right to count playoff games

sorry meant to say you seem to not mention the away game where we beat you, I had to put that in there was rereading what I wrote.
Ponder was doing okay the Texans kept adrian down under a 100 if I remember right and Ponder stepped up, I think he will do just fine this year.
And I really hope this year we beat you guys both times and its not delusional to think that it can happen.

okay filthy this is my last post to you how can a playoff game be a season game? not all teams play in the playoffs, and if ponder was playing he would have done better, you seem to mention your away game at the vikings which is in between the reg. season game and playoff game so how is that 2 games. in season
I dont think its right to count playoff games

It’s clear very few people that comment here knew anything about football. All i have left to say is this. … ponder may not ever be a great quarterback but there is no doubt he will be a good one. Rodgers is the best in the league right now, but he also rode the bench for a few years learning from one of the greatest to play the game. As far as how superior you think the packers are. …. you win the division by one game last year and your defense is absolute garbage. Minnesota is a better team than you give them credit for. You know it and i know it. As far as peterson goes…. regardless of what happens this year he will go down as one of the best to ever play the position. The packers aren’t all they are called up to be. Hey over yourselves.

Over the last EIGHT games sat year he averaged 157+. He wasn’t at full early in the year. I’m pulling for you AD.

shlort says:May 2, 2013 9:56 PM

Odds are, he gets neither. That is just the odds. Breaking 2000 yards is rare for a runner to get one time in a career. Back to back? And a super bowl title to top it off? I don’t see it happening. Maybe I am wrong, but….. Oh well.

bgm9876 says:May 2, 2013 10:22 PM

he can say that all he wants. Now since Percy Harvin is with Seahawks now hes the only good one there well maybe C. Ponder.

Lets not forget he played the second half of the year with a sports hernia…the guys a freak

youngs79 says:May 2, 2013 10:51 PM

All he did was rush for over 500 yards against the Packers last year. Packer fans, get over yourselves. Your Defense and Offensive line sucks! Rodgers has been sacked more than ANY QB the last 3 seasons. How about your game against the Niners. They put up about a 1000 yards against that Swiss cheese Defense. By the way, the Vikings beat the Niners. Green Bay is a terrible team, in a terrible city, with terrible fans.

larryboodry says:May 2, 2013 10:57 PM

Norseman says: May 2, 2013 6:22 PM

“AP rushed for 2,000+ last year with the 31st ranked passing offense in the league. 8 or 9 in the box was pretty typical. Imagine what he could do if the Vikings pass offense moved up to, say, 15th?”

The thing is, for the offense to rank 15th., they would have to spread the ball around, and not rely on AP to carry the team…Less carries = less yards.

larryboodry says:May 2, 2013 11:06 PM

I like AP, but I don’t see him reaching either goal…1,700 yards, Vikes finish 3rd. in the NFC North (behind Green Bay and Chicago) at 10-6.

Apparently this Peterson guy is just a fantasy football back and does nothing to help a real football team win. The goal should be to win games not run up fantasy football numbers. The vikings averaged only 6 wins a season the last 3 years. How about working on the touchdowns instead of yards? Before getting lippy about 2500 yards, how about making it to 2000 sometime.

He also knows nothing of viking history. The trophy awarded for winning the NFC is the George Halas Trophy. The vikings have never won it. The vikings have zero trophies (Go ahead and Google it).

Peterson is all meaningless jive talk; like equating playing for the vikings with slavery.

Dream big and live big. Peterson has proven that he is the marker to match when it comes to running backs. From all accounts, I have never heard him gripe about the other players on his team. His comments, outlandish or not, serve as optimism for the rest of the team. No problem with dreaming as it has seemed to work well for the kid thus far. As far as Ponder is concerned, the jury is now out…Year 3 begins. Jennings is in the fold, Childs seems to be doing well in rehab from the double knee, Simpson is coming back for another year on the cheap, Rudolph is a clear weapon if the wide outs are healthy, and Felton proved, without a doubt, that he rocks as a FB. And with the recent draft, Ponder has a tool box full of weapons. This year is on Ponder. Point blank. SKOL VIKES

vikingfan1971 says:
May 2, 2013 8:28 PM
okay filthy this is my last post to you how can a playoff game be a season game? not all teams play in the playoffs, and if ponder was playing he would have done better, you seem to mention your away game at the vikings which is in between the reg. season game and playoff game so how is that 2 games. in season
I dont think its right to count playoff games

Wow….there are some amazing jackasses on the internet these days:
1. Until recently, it was “impossible” for a guy to shred all three knee ligaments and be ready for week 1 of the regular season. But yeah…there’s no way he can improve on last year when he only ran for 2,097 yards (while injured). You guys are right. Total loser.
2. The PED accusations are ridiculous. Unless you’re referring to Clay Matthews and his best friend Brian Cushing.
3. Wisconsin is home to Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, and that guy who got caught making love to a dead deer (twice). What else do these 3 have in common? They’re all less nuts than all the Gerby wannabes trolling this site.

brewdogg says:May 3, 2013 12:14 AM

tokyosandblaster says: May 2, 2013 6:54 PM

Eric Dickerson – 2105
Following year – 1200

Chris Johnson – 2000
Following year – 1300

HGH Peterson – 2096
Following year – 1400 tops.

They talk about mileage for a reason. He’s got a lot if miles. Not much more before he breaks down.
_______________________________

Emmit Smith – 2007 carries
Played 15 seasons
Over 7000 yds after his 8th season

Adrian Peterson – 1754 carries
Will still be better than whoever the Packers RB is when his current contract expires.

bryco9 says:May 3, 2013 12:28 AM

I’ll start off by saying I love the Vikings and the NFL as a whole, and yes part of me would love to AP get to 2500 yds, but it won’t happen. That said, barring another injury he will top 2000 yds again, because he has to for the team to succeed. To those of you attempting to defend Crystal Ponder, I’ll say this as politely as I can, HE SUCKS BALLS. He can’t play though pain, can’t throw accurately beyond 15 yds, and repeatedly throws drive killing int’s in the red zone. Sorry AP but without the threat of a passing game, and a 31st ranking is not a threat it’s an insult, no one wins a Super Bowl.

I love Adrian Peterson. I feel lucky to see him play. That being said the odds of him getting 2500 yards and the Vikings winning the supper bowl is less than one of us posting in this thread becoming the owner of a NFL team.

gbmickey says:May 3, 2013 8:49 AM

Viking fans talking of intellect but cannot even spell it let alone comprehend the meaning. Putting Wisconsin down when Minnesota welcomes all our unwanted washed up has beens? What does that tell you about your state?

filthymcnasty1isadouche says:May 3, 2013 9:24 AM

He averaged 159.8 yards per game over the last 10 games last season.

filthymcnasty1isadouche says:May 3, 2013 9:29 AM

bobnelsonjr says:
“Before getting lippy about 2500 yards, how about making it to 2000 sometime.”
——————————————
Doesn’t the 2097 he rushed for last year count?

Its just hard for Packers fans to understand what a “goal” is. If he rushed for 2200 yds this year, then what should be his mark for next year if its a true “goal”. Be complacent and do the same?

The packers are pretty stagnant and complacent right now. They haven’t made a move all year to help themselves out, and they do need help at 0 line and D whether or not the packer trolls like to admit it.

They like to talk about how Jennings is sooo injury prone, what about your boy Jordy? I saw him wearing a stocking cap more than a helmet last year and he wasn’t even on a contract year like Jennings.

Get over yourselves and quit living in the past.

theytukrjobs says:May 3, 2013 10:02 AM

Sheesh Packer fans are annoying.

If you count Peterson’s last 10 games, including a the playoff loss in which Ponder’s absence forced the team to run a different offense completely, with Webb flopping as a wildcat QB, then Peterson “only” averaged 153 yards over his last 10 games, which is pretty darn close to what is needed for 2500…

With Cassel as the backup, we know that at least if Peterson goes down the Vikes will still run their standard offense and not shotgun wildcat nonsense.

Peterson is positioned very well to break the all time rushing record. I’m damn excited to watch him hopefully give it a run. And if he gets to 2200, 2300, or more then it will be one of the greatest achievements in the history of the sport.

It would be very easy to pile on AP/AD on this but civilization is chock full of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary tasks. In 1958 sir Roger Bannister was the first Human Being to break the 4 minute mile. The next year over 2000 individuals broke it. Now it’s routine. What changed, gravity or was it just belief? All it takes is one. If you believe you can achieve!

The most underreported story in sports is how a player returns from terrible knee injury and is faster and more powerful than he was before the injury… and he’s 27 years old…. CLEARLY he is on something, yet no mainstream source seems interested in figuring out what that something is.

I guess it’s probably underreported because news publications have to have FACTS to support their thoughts, unlike yourself. There are plenty of people who have actually tested positive for performance enhancers….why don’t you go talk garbage about them? There have been advances in the treatment of injuries, you know…..and I know you probably don’t know anything about AP except that he is way better than any other running back in the league, but he actually works pretty hard. You can in fact become faster and stronger through legitimate training. Crazy, right? 27 is pretty much your athletic prime. If he’s still getting stronger at 37, you win.

I love all the haters on here! What AD loves is you haters saying he can’t do something, just like last year. We may not win a super bowl but 2500 is most def in his abilities! I don’t doubt that he does it just to prove that he is the best RB to ever play. 400 years already in 2 games vs the Packers another 400 vs the Lions another 400 vs the Bears he’s at 1200 with just division games and there are still 10 more games left to obtain 1300 I’m sure he can average 130 in those games 2500 is atainable!

jimnsota says:May 3, 2013 5:36 PM

AP only broke 100yds once in his first 6 games. Is it a lofty goal yes, but he could do it. The Vikings O-line is only getting better and the passing game cant be any worse than last season. I’d say if he plays all 16 he’s got a shot.

Peterson is a tremendous player and gives Viking fans something to cheer for while they’re losing games.

dukeearl says:May 4, 2013 7:23 PM

G’luck Adrian Peterson.
I hope you reach the yardage goal.
Not rooting for you to get the SuperBowl ring because I am not a Viking fan.
Goals are set high for a reason. Keep pushing yourself hard.
Far better than Tony Romo playing golf…
I don’t want to think you are using HGH. It would spoil a good thing (at least in my opinion)

I know one thing will be for sure next year, the lions will still suck…am I right or am I right?Just kidding on a different note, Ponder will progressively get confidence this year he can be a successful game manager. There are a lot of things opposing coaches don’t like to go against, and game managers are one of them. If he could average 235 yards a game and a touchdown, that would be ideal for his situation, CP can take short little passes and make them count! Alex smith has made a living being a game manager the last few years, that is what the vike’s need. This could be very attainable, this IS ponders “make or break” year, he screws up and he gone! Even if we go to the playoffs, and his play is lacking, he gone!!!

vikingfan1971 says:May 5, 2013 12:49 AM

Us viking fans are not acting like we won every super bowl, we know we have not won one yet.
But you can not say the vikings will never win a super bowl. (Either)

adrian averaged over that amount the moment he realized he knee was ok, despite a sports hernia that required surgery.

dukeearl says:May 7, 2013 3:40 PM

Quote:
69finfan says:
May 3, 2013 10:25 AM
It would be very easy to pile on AP/AD on this but civilization is chock full of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary tasks. In 1958 sir Roger Bannister was the first Human Being to break the 4 minute mile. The next year over 2000 individuals broke it. Now it’s routine. What changed, gravity or was it just belief? All it takes is one. If you believe you can achieve!
End Quote

After Roger Bannister and John Floyd broke the 4 minute mile in the same race, it took 2 years for anybody to run a mile under 4 minutes. To date 955 runners have ran the mile under 4 minutes.